College places students on day of test

This spring Algonquin College in Ottawa became the first English-language program in the world to place its students on the day they took the TOEIC test, using a system called "remote scanning."

Algonquin’s Language Institute has been using the TOEIC test as a placement tool for the last year.
In the past, it sent the answer sheets by overnight courier to the TOEIC office. TOEIC staff scored the tests and faxed or emailed the results to Algonquin College – enabling staff to place students the day after they had taken the test. This system allowed the TOEIC office to provide good, next-day service to the college.

The TOEIC program introduced a new software system in early 2002 that enabled remote scanning. Under this system, the school administers the TOEIC test and then scans the answer sheets. It emails the raw data to TOEIC Services. TOEIC staff import the data, score the tests and send the results back to the college. By scanning the answer sheets immediately after the test, the school can receive the results in less than two hours.

“This is a great improvement in the service that we can provide our students,” says Bernice Klassen, ESL Coordinator at the Language Institute. “It enables us to place students much more quickly than by sending the answer sheets by courier.”

Algonquin typically tests about 50 students per session, using the TOEIC test to place new students into levels one through eight of its English-language program. Students who complete the highest level are admitted to academic programs, provided that they meet any other entrance requirements.

In order to scan TOEIC answer sheets remotely, a school needs an NCS scanner or equivalent. Many colleges and universities have a scanner, although it is not always located in the English-language department. Often other departments, such as the registrar or testing office, house the scanner and are willing to scan answer sheets as a service. If the college does not have a scanner, one can be purchased from NCS Pearson.

TOEIC Services offers the same-day placement service for the same price as its next-day placement service. For more information, please contact TOEIC Services in the United States or Canada.